I have an S20 and a D18 (and three other children but their paths likely won’t lead to college). Does anyone else feel like they are completely starting over with the second child? Mine are so different! They are at different high schools (uber-competitive large magnet HS vs small, nurturing private school). They have vastly different gifts, interests, goals, and types of colleges in mind. With D18 I feel like we’re ahead of the game and fully prepared. With S20 I am clueless as how to guide him and answer his questions. I know, it’s early and we’ll get there.
Anyway, my S20 has gotten over the initial (and rather dramatic!) high school adjustment hump. He does club swim, debate, drumline, rock band (yes, at school. It’s an amazing program), and he works as a swim coach 3-4 hours/week. Right now he says he would like to continue with all of these endeavors in college. While doing pre-med. Right. :))
First semester of freshman year is done and in the books! DS20 exceeded expectations and finished the semester with all A’s. He’s signed up for his first big Model UN conference in January, he’s getting two suits and dress shoes for Christmas, and starts full time fencing for his PE credit next semester, hopefully he can find his new groove!
Well S16 has returned home from Reed college to inform me that I was homeschooling high school incorrectly, and has taken over instruction for 5 weeks starting yesterday. LOL. I trust his suggestions because the kid obviously knows what he is talking about since he got a 4.5 GPA and took 12 AP with mostly 4s and 5s. S20 has learning disabilities and it has been tough going. D16 has some very strong learning strategies that seem to work well with D20s learning style.
The goal is now full mastery of a subject. The first step was to remove all testing. The only test we are aiming for is the SAT subject test for classes that have a matching test as well as AP testing. I still have to figure out how to give grades…hmmmm. The next was to use a point system to gage mastery. This should be an interesting experiment…
My S16 also will be taking over the teaching of AP Econ and AP Physics from a distance next year…for pay, from me. LOL. Apparently he does not feel tuition is good payment! One is his major and the other a probably minor. We don’t know yet which is which. He is a dual something/math major. The something is either econ or physics! So here we go. D20 is now in much better hands.
Language Arts is still on me but that I can teach well.
Hello all. Looking forward to being part of this group. Currently have D17 getting her responses from direct entry nursing schools. This site has been a god send this year to help with her applications. I am looking forward to being a bit more on top of things earlier on with S20. He is a completely different animal though…probably more naturally gifted then my D17, but also much lazier. Knows computers inside and out; built his first one with hubby when S20 was only 9. I keep on telling him that college CS is very competitive and he will likely go to community college if his Bs don’t turn to As, at least half the time. Will see…
Hello, all. Major lurker on this site during the last few months as we went through the application process with D17. She just got the acceptance she was waiting for yesterday, so of course I figured it was time to actually register for an account! Figured I’d actually start here at the beginning with S20 . . .
Looking forward to getting to know everyone. Happy holidays!
DD informed me yesterday that she can get her initial driver’s learner permit in exactly 4 months. The first big HS milestone is looming. Not sure if I am ready to do all of this again.
Passport vent! DH’s passport expired last month and DS18 and DS20’s will expire in March. DS18 may need to have a passport this summer. Since the boys are minors we are required to go with them to the passport office so we figured we get all three done at once today since DH has the day off. They would not let DH turn in his paper work at the office because it hadn’t been expired long enough so he has to mail it to them?! They would not let DS20 (age 15) renew his with both parents present with Valid ID and his current soon to be expired passport because we didn’t bring his birth certificate so we couldn’t “prove we were his parents” but they had no trouble with DS18 who just needed one parent to sign his paperwork and no need for birth certificate. We were advised to come back in Oct when DS20 is 16 that way he only needs one parent and no birth certificate AND his next passport will be good for 10 years instead of only 5 years that they would issue him if we would have had his birth certificate with us. I can see the need for birth certificate for new passports but not for renewals and it’s just crazy that they believe we are the parents of one son but not the other’s without showing a birth certificate! Thankfully DS20 has no plans to leave the country this summer.
Unless your child absolutely needs a passport, wait until they are 16 years old, it’s much easier and a better deal!
^3scoutsmom, ugh, D’s passport expires in August before she turns 16. We are going to Mexico this spring and France this summer so she’ll need to renew.
Went to pick up S16 many years ago from middle school to get a passport. Unfortunately, the local bank had just been robbed and the school was on lockdown. Waited and waited. Husband had even taken the time off. Never made it to the post office that day. Don’t know about the bank robbers.
Yes, @LKnomad I too have a different kind of kid this time. Much more of a perfectionist so self motivated to the point I feel I am trying to protect her from getting consumed by this process rather than trying to create interest in exploring options and a sense of urgency. It is going to be a roller coaster again but the curves, accents and drops have all moved around.
Lol. I’m just getting back to this thread. Yes. I did mean the musical! It’s coming to San Francisco in a few months, and my teenagers are both huge fans!
Hello all and Happy New Year! I’ve learned sooo much from this forum and I’m hoping one finally gets started for the Parents of the HS Class of 2021 (I’m unable to due to lack of posts??). Until then, I will continue to read all the inspiring and many lessons from each of you. I only have one DD so this will be a first/last experience for me so I need ALL the help I can get.
@Redslp , we have Hamilton tickets for their LA run and we can’t wait! DH wasn’t too keen on buying season tickets to the theater even when I told him part of the package was Hamilton. Then his interest was piqued when he heard the some of the music and started reading the biography I gave him for Christmas.
Figured I’d actually start here at the beginning with S20 . . .